Yes, I, too, would like to thank all the Members of the various committees, and the Minister and staff of the Workers' Compensation Board for working to got this legislation changed and put forward here. I have a couple of comments on the bill itself. For the record, I note that the bill does not allow for increases to YMIR calculations for those currently receiving benefits. It is effective for people who get injured after July 1. It has also been noted by the Minister that there have been no increases in payments for over four years. So the actions taken are appreciated as is the Minister's announcement of the 7.5 per cent increase in the supplementary pension benefits effective July 1. This will help, to some degree, the people that are receiving benefits.
I would also like to mention that in further discussions and further legislation, people who are injured now would like in the legislative review some deliberation taken and some consideration of how their allowances are calculated and the types of deductions from the allowances or pension benefits. In particular, they do not get any benefit for living in the North, and many of the pensions are fairly small and the costs associated with living in the North are fairly high. Subsequently, people who. receive monthly pensions find it very difficult to live on that pension, and if there are deductions on top of what they are awarded, it makes it much more difficult. One recommendation is that you may look at some kind of northern living allowance. People who are employed by government or other bigger employers in the North get a $5400 deduction for living allowance and people, when the deductions are taken for compensation, are not given any consideration like this.
We are pleased with the quick action taken by all Members and support speedy passage of this bill. Thank you.